Cable tool



July 31, 1945.

Filed Nov. 4

G. W. CROWDER CABLE TOOL 1945 2 sheets-sneei 2 v IN VEN TOR.

{earje fivzadzef ATTORNEYS Patented July 31, 1945 UNETED STATES PATENT j OFFICE CABLE TOOL George w. Crowder, Los Angeles, Calif. Application November 4, 1943, Serial No. 509,026

Claims.

My invention relates to'the removal of insulation and armor lead or the like from telephone, marine, power, signal cable and the like, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved cable-tool designed to facilitate cutting of the insulation and stripping the same Qm the cable. a

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side view of the tool.

Figure 2 is a view of the tool rotated 90 degrees.

Figure 3 is aview similar to Figure 1 but rotated 180 degrees.

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 3. v

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5- of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of Figure 2, and

Figure 'lis a view of a blade which may be employed in the tool.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, I make use of a body or handle I0 to one end of which are attached two diverging jaws or prongs I2 and I4.. These jaws are characterized by gentle curvatures outwardly from each other. The handle I0 is provided with a square opening I6 arranged axially 0f the handle and passing through the end I8 between the jaws I2 and I4; A shank is receivable in the opening I6 and carries two grooving blades 22 lying between the jaws I2 and I4 and bisecting the angle therebetween. These blades are spaced close to- .gether and have cutting edges 24 extending along one edge thereof and across their outer ends.

When cutting a groove longitudinally of the cable, the latter is placed between the jaws I2 and I4 to brin the blades 22 inci'ltting engagement with the insulation. Then the tool may be pulled longitudinally of the cable, with the jaws functioning as guides so that a straight line out may be made, withthe tool guided firmly along the The blades 22'ma'y be adjusted to diflerent positions to accommodate cables of different diameters, since the shank 20 is slidable in thecable.

opening I6. This shank is of the sam contour as the opening so as to be restrained from rotation. The handle I0 includesa lateral projection 26 provided with a threaded bore 28 arranged at right angles tothe opening I6. A set screw 30 threaded into the bore 28 to secure the shank A threaded bore 32 is provided in the handle III, which bore is coaxial with the opening I6. A long screw 34 is threaded in the bore 32 and functions as an abutment for the shank 20. The

' in either opening 36.

plane of the jaws I2 and I4. A set screw 40 isprovided for securing the blade 38 in difierent positions.

so that the blade 38 will be arranged at an acute angle to the axis of the handle II] when positioned A lip 42 projects from one side of the handle III, which lip terminates in a sharp edge 44 and may be used to remove the sheathing or armor from the cable after it has been out along predetermined lines.

To one face of the projection 26 is mounted a hook 46 provided with a straight shank 48 having a plurality of openings 50 for selective reception of a pin 52 threaded into the projection 26. The shank is pivotally mounted on the pin 52 and is held thereon by a nut 54 threadedly connected with the pin. A handle 56 continues from the shank 48. The hook 46 lies in a plane paralskinning knife, etc.

leling the plane of the jaws I2 and I4, but is positioned slightly to one side thereof, and on the.

side opposite the blade 38.

The jaw I2 is provided with a blade element 58 which may be employed in removing the outer sheath or lead or the like covering.

The hook 46 is employed in holding the cable in place while cutting thelongitudinal or circumferential grooves.

A blade 60 is provided with a shank 62 receivable in the hole I6. A set screw 64 is threaded in the handle ID to engage the screw 34, and fixedly relate the blade 60 thereto. This blade may be used for several services, as a cable knife,

In operation, when it is desired to cut a longitudinal groove in a cable, the blades 22 are adjusted to project the desired distance, and the screw 34 adjusted to provide anabutment for the blades: The setscrew 30 is then tightened up to hold the blades in adjusted position. The

cable (not shown) is then placed between the jaws I2 and I4 to bring the blades in cutting engagement with the insulation, and by grasping the handle II), the tool is drawn along the cable to make the cut. When it is desired to cut in- The openings 36 are arranged at acute angles to the longitudinal'axis of the handle I0,

sulation the blade 38 is fixed in the proper position in one of the openings in projection 26 and by grasping the handle ill the cut is made. The lip 42 having an edge 44 is used to remove sheathing or armor from cable after it has been cut, and the blade 58 on jaw 12 for removing lead or the outer sheath covering. Blade 60 when mounted may be used for either a cable or a skinning knife, and the hook 46 is for holding a cable within jaws l2 and I4 when a longitudinal or circumferential groove is being made in the cable.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. An insulated cable tool, comprising an elongated handle having a bore extending axially therethrough, a part of which is threaded, an abutment screw extending from one end into the threaded part of the bore, a pair of curved, relatively diverging jaws carried at the other end of the handle to hold a cable, an adjustable hook shaped member attached to the handle and projecting across the jaws but spaced therefrom to engage a cable in the jaws, and an adjustable knife element in the unthreaded part of the bore and projecting between the jaws to contact and out the insulation of a cable held between th jaws and the hook.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein the knife element has spaced parallel blades formed on a shank, said shank being adjust-ably received in the bore.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein the hook element has a straight shank provided with a, plurality of aligned spaced openings, and the handle has an attaching means for the shank including a pin receivable through a selected one of the openings and a nut to hdld the shank thereon.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein the hook element has a straight shank arranged at one side of the handle terminating in a handle part and provided with spaced, aligned openings. and wherein the handle has a pin thereon recurable in a selected one of the openings and a nut for tightening the shank on the pin.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the handle has a lateral projection formed with a threaded bore communicating with the bore in the handle and having a screw' therein for tightening against the shank of the knife to hold the knife in position in the handle.

GEORGE W. C'ROWDER. 

